Beneath a clear, sunny sky, three children walked across the aquabus platform in the Court of Fontaine.
"I'm telling you, there's no point collecting these old newspapers," said Paban. The newsy adjusted his cap, "The adults are always lying in the news anyway! You can't just believe everything you read!"
"Yeah, big bro, do we really need to do this?" Verut sniffed, "I'd rather go play hide-and-seek."
Aurele rolled his eyes, picking up a discarded newspaper from a nearby bench, "It's for collectors. Collectors, I'm telling you! Adults like to collect weird things like that- we could make money by collecting and selling these as a set."
"It's rubbish though!" Paban complained, "Hey, if you want to collect newspapers, you should at least buy the latest issue of the Steambird from me! Everyone knows the Seven Nations Gazette just makes things up!"
Verut scratched his nose, "Yeah, but now I think about it, big bro may have a point. It's just fun to read made-up stories, isn't it?"
Paban glared at him, "Whose side are you on anyway- Oh no!" he yelped in dismay.
A gust of wind caught a few pieces of newspaper that Aurele had been carrying, sending the papers swirling in the air and out over the rippling waters of the aqueduct where the aquabuses were parked.
To the dismay of the children, the sheets of newspapers landed out of reach in the waters, slowly drifting down the aqueduct and dissolving into the waters.
Inky words separated from the cheap paper, floating on the surface of the sparkling waters…
The Enigma Unveiled: Chief Justice Neuvillette's Exclusive Tell-All Interview
Iudex Under Inquiry: Shocking Politics Influence Fatui Court Ruling
Opera House Opposition: Hydro Archon and Chief Justice At Odds
Protests at Palais Over Oratrice Oversight
…and then an aquabus pulled into the station, stirring up ripples that dissolved the ink away.
"So…a super fan, huh?" Navia said slowly.
Clorinde stood beside her, arms folded. Some distance away from them at the entrance of a grand estate, the Gardes were escorting a lady dressed in white down the lawn.
"Lady Isabeau was indeed the one responsible for stirring up the rumours against Monsieur Neuvillette," Clorinde nodded, "From our investigation, she became obsessed with Monsieur Neuvillette five years ago after her husband was convicted of murdering her sister," she coughed, looking away, "She's been stalking him and collecting things. We found a…shrine in a hidden room behind a portrait of her late husband. The interview from the Steambird was framed up inside- we believe she decided to put her plan into action after reading the article."
Indeed, besides Lady Isabeau, the Gardes were also bringing out a strange parade of items. Navia looked on, both horrified and amused as she spotted a body pillow being carted past her.
"You aren't looking to start a collection of your own, are you?" Navia smirked.
Clorinde narrowed her eyes, "We do need to collect evidence to build a case against Lady Isabeau."
"I was just joking," Navia laughed, "You see him every day anyway."
Clorinde rolled her eyes, but her lips were pulled in a faint smile.
Suddenly, Lady Isabeau began to shriek at the Garde that was holding on to her, "Hey! B-Be careful with that wine glass! I-It was used by Monsieur Neuvillette before-!"
Navia winced at the sight, shaking her head.
"Why did she stir up rumours against Neuvillette though?" Navia continued.
"It seems she thought that if she could show Neuvillette that she was his biggest supporter in a time of trouble then he would somehow notice her," Clorinde paused, "Lady Isabeau is…quite deranged."
"Being mentally unsound…doesn't fully excuse her actions, I think," Navia frowned, "A lot of trouble has happened because of her."
Clorinde shrugged, "That's for the court to decide."
Navia sighed as she glanced up at the clear blue sky above, "Speaking of which, Monsieur Neuvillette and Lady Furina are making a public address today, right?"
"Yes," Clorinde paused, "Will you be attending?"
Navia nodded firmly, "Of course. I wonder what they'll say…"
The public square was filled with people. Charlotte, being a member of the press, was lucky enough to have a spot reserved for her quite close to the stage.
Monsieur Neuvillette, standing on the stage that had been set up near the fountain at the centre of the square, caught her gaze and nodded to her, smiling faintly. Charlotte nodded back nervously. Maybe it wasn't just luck after all. Still, he didn't seem to blame her for the chaos that her article had caused…
As the bell for the hour rang out, the crowd quieted down as Neuvillette took the stage.
"I stand before you all to address the recent events. By which I refer to the following: Firstly, the sentencing of the Fatui Harbinger, Childe. Secondly, the rumours regarding the tampering of the Oratrice. Thirdly, the incident of Lady Furina's apparent outburst before the Palais and the Abyssal incursion from the Opera Epiclese."
Charlotte straightened, chewing her lip. Those were all headline topics, but what was the angle she should write with here? Her reporter's instinct told her she needed something more, something that people could really latch into.
"Regarding the sentencing of Childe, our initial investigation has uncovered a peculiar resonance between the Abyssal energy wielded by Childe and a creature of the Abyss that was discovered to be trapped within the core of the Oratrice…"
Murmurs burst from the crowd at that. Yes, it was certainly quite astounding that something like that could even happen. Charlotte tapped her pen against the edge of her cap. Abyssal Pest in Oratrice Parts ? No, it didn't quite have a ring to it…
"...the creature took the form of Lady Furina to sow chaos while she was occupied stabilising the core of the Oratrice…"
Now that was a little more like it. Hydro Archon Hoax: Abyssal Mimic Unmasked! That was something she could really sink her teeth into, but was there a better angle she could use?
"Regarding the lingering questions, I will now yield the floor to Lady Furina," concluded Neuvillette. The Chief Justice looked over to the figure of the Hydro Archon who had been waiting patiently by his side. She looked unusually subdued for once and she had a serious expression on her face.
Hydro Archon Speaks Out: Truth and Justice Revealed
Charlotte nodded to herself, leaning in to listen carefully. Yes, that was what she could run with.
Furina fidgeted on the stage. Her heart was pounding furiously inside her. It wasn't the first time she had to speak on a stage- no, she did that quite frequently in fact, but not for an occasion like this…
She'd been up the whole night preparing what she needed to say. Instead of ad libbing like she usually did she had spent hours pondering every word, trying to craft the best message she could for the people of Fontaine. She owed them so many answers after all.
Furina snuck a glance at Neuvillette. He looked as composed as ever, and she felt a little better standing beside him. Ah, there were many things she wanted to talk to him about as well, but at least she now knew that she could.
"...I will now yield the floor to Lady Furina," he said. That was her cue. Furina walked over to the centre of the stage and hesitated.
In that moment, staring out at the expectant faces of the people of Fontaine, she made a decision on the spot to throw all her carefully prepared words away.
Furina took a deep breath. A lot had happened. People didn't want false reassurances or beautifully crafted words. She couldn't rely on a prepared speech after all. There was only one thing that she could give that was truly worthy of them…
"People of Fontaine," she said, "I have failed you, and for that I would like to apologise."
Alright, the reaction wasn't too bad. People didn't immediately start throwing things- they just looked sort of stunned and contemplative rather than outraged. Furina tried to cheer herself up. This wasn't difficult at all after what she'd already confessed in the Oratrice!
"The Oratrice was a device set up by my predecessor. In order to allay worries over its functioning, I did not disclose the details…"
It got easier the more she spoke. Furina talked on, sometimes rambling, sometimes pausing when she was clarifying her thoughts.
"The truth is," she said, "I am not an omnipotent god. The truth is, that there are times when justice fails and yet I will dare to strive for the justice that you are owed. The truth is, that at the end of the day I am only able to be your god because you allow it…"
This was it. Perhaps the people of Fontaine would lose their faith. Or perhaps their belief might instead grow, on a firmer foundation of truth. Furina had been quite nervous about this decision, but now the die was cast. She snuck a peek at Neuvillette.
He was there by her side, always, and there was a smile in his eyes.
Furina faced the crowd before her and smiled brilliantly, "I have made mistakes, but although I am the Hydro Archon, even I can be judged by you! People of Fontaine, I rest my case in your hands!"
On a field of flowers overlooking the Court of Fontaine, Neuvillette and Furina sat and watched the clouds.
"Where do you think that Abyssal creature came from anyway?" Furina pondered aloud, her voice carried away by the gentle breeze.
Neuvillette replied, his tone contemplative, "My investigations of the Oratrice have not borne fruit as of yet. It seems your... predecessor intentionally erased all records."
Furina slumped against him, her head resting lightly on his shoulder. "That would be too easy, wouldn't it?"
A soft chuckle rumbled in his chest, "Perhaps so. May I ask how you knew that confessing to the Oratrice would stabilize its core?"
Furina shifted to look at him, her eyes searching his. "I didn't," she admitted with a faint smile. "The Oratrice runs on the belief in justice. I just thought that perhaps doing justice to you might help, and if it didn't... well, it wouldn't be so bad to be honest in the end, would it?"
She peered at him carefully. Neuvillette met her gaze thoughtfully in silence.
"I believe that it's time we see each other clearly," Neuvillette finally broke the quiet, "Your worship of me…and my worship of you, must come to an end, Lady Furina."
"There has been a lot of trouble we could have avoided if we were honest to begin with," she admitted, her voice tinged with regret, "But I just-"
Neuvillette leaned towards her. Furina leaned towards him as well. Their lips brushed, very briefly, then they both pulled back abruptly.
"You're blushing!" Furina laughed, feeling light, "Haha! I've finally made you blush after all these years!"
Neuvillette looked away and cleared his throat, "Ahem, you are also blushing, Lady Furina…"
Furina smiled as she gazed up into his eyes, a warmth rush of affection rising up inside her. "Neuvillette, I..."
She paused, three important words dancing on the tip of her tongue, but a sudden shyness held her back. Just as she was beginning to feel frustrated with herself, Neuvillette smiled.
"I know," he said, "And I, you."